DeLauro Statement on 55th Anniversary of the War on Poverty
A video of her statement can be found here.
WASHINGTON, DC (August 20, 2019) – Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released a video marking the 55th anniversary of the War on Poverty. Below are her remarks as delivered:
Hello, this is Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and today I want to recognize the 55th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Economic Opportunity Act into law.
In launching the war on poverty, President Johnson and Congress made a commitment to providing social safety net programs made for lifting families out of poverty. With a laser-like focus on helping people in their time of need, these leaders created federal programs to help end hunger, create good-paying jobs, provide healthcare, and make sure our children get a good education.
The single biggest economic challenge of our time is that people are in jobs with wages that do not keep up with the rising costs of healthcare, prescription drugs, child care, and housing. This year, we have fought long and hard against opponents of programs like the food stamp program, the Child Tax Credit, and high-quality healthcare. These programs have repeatedly been on the chopping block for President Trump and Republicans to fund tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and corporations. These attacks on our social safety net do not reflect our values. We must focus on issues that affect working people every day.
In America, we believe in helping families put food on the table and secure access to healthcare—not turning a blind eye to those who are the most vulnerable. This is what President Johnson intended all those years ago when he declared an "unconditional war on poverty," and that is what we must continue to fight to protect.
Thank you.